The clash has opened an unusually personal rift between Trump and one of Europe’s most prominent right-wing leaders
1-MIN READ1-MIN ListenAgence France-PressePublished: 9:37pm, 20 Jun 2026US President Donald Trump escalated a diplomatic row with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday, accusing her of repeatedly seeking a photograph with him and linking the dispute to tensions over Iran and Nato.The clash has opened an unusually personal rift between Trump and one of Europe’s most prominent right-wing leaders, who had sought to cast herself as a bridge between Washington and the continent during Trump’s return to power.
Meloni angrily denied the claim, calling it “made up”, but Trump doubled down in a post on Truth Social, saying Meloni had asked “over and over” for a photograph during the summit.
He also accused her of trying to repair relations with Washington for domestic political reasons after Italy failed to support US action against Iran.
